Freight division.

Discussion in 'Con-Way' started by jakebrake12, Apr 11, 2010.

  1. kimoyo

    kimoyo Bobtail Member

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    nanman,

    People seem to accentuate the positives and not the negatives on here. I don't think Conway is a very good company but considering the occupation maybe it is.

    Your probably not going to hear this from an HR person but they aren't going to be hiring in the NY/NJ area until the new year or after. The only spots that will open up is when someone quits (it gets really cold on the dock in winter) or is fired. Some companies including Conway and Fedex thought they could kill off yellow freight by lowering their prices to the point it was unprofitable to haul certain freight. Yellow didn't close, Fedex had a horrible month last month and Conway is trying to drop as much cheap freight as quick as they can. They are raising the prices and in anticipation of a freight decline aren't planning on hiring for a while. There's actually a driver hiring freeze on the area right now.
     
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  3. JFKFC199

    JFKFC199 Bobtail Member

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    Even though i've only worked for con-way, i've heard about 1 billion times that all LTL's are basically the same... so don't just go after con-way. you have FedEx and Saia down there that are hiring right now. Even if you have to be a dock monkey for a few months till a driving job opens, you'll still probably get the same money and better hours than that company you're at now, judging by what you said you make in other posts. And then once you're a driver you'll double what you have now.
     
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  4. nikondvr

    nikondvr Light Load Member

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    Originally posted by Kimoyo:

    People seem to accentuate the positives and not the negatives on here. I don't think Conway is a very good company but considering the occupation maybe it is. And what makes you say it's not a very good company ? What kind of student are you? At a trucking school?

    Your probably not going to hear this from an HR person but they aren't going to be hiring in the NY/NJ area until the new year or after. The only spots that will open up is when someone quits (it gets really cold on the dock in winter) or is fired. Some companies including Conway and Fedex thought they could kill off yellow freight by lowering their prices to the point it was unprofitable to haul certain freight. Yellow didn't close, Fedex had a horrible month last month and Conway is trying to drop as much cheap freight as quick as they can.

    Yes we are trying to drop cheap freight. Rates were dropped when freight was really slow to keep our market share up and to keep our drivers working and not have to lay off employees. Now that freight has picked up some it makes sense to let go of the freight that isn't paying it's own way.


    They are raising the prices and in anticipation of a freight decline aren't planning on hiring for a while. There's actually a driver hiring freeze on the area right now.

    In the last year we have increased our drivers by almost 50% so yes we are now slowing down on hiring. Surely you don't think that a company can hire at the same rate constantly.
     
  5. jakebrake12

    jakebrake12 Road Train Member

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    There's some truth to what he said but the bottom line is the bottom line to me. When compared to most other driving jobs there is no comparison - I've been home daily for 7 years and the one day I was not I was taken to a Hampton Inn that the company paid for by the terminal manager. There are some better jobs like UPS, but all the LTL companies are somewhat cut throat and I'll compare my W2's to any other driver on the road topping 95% of them.. It is what it is - a good paying driving job at a company in the business of moving freight and making money. It's worked very well for me so far..
     
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  6. kimoyo

    kimoyo Bobtail Member

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    In my first three days working for Con-way, I had no less than 8 people tell me they didn't like working for the company. That's a conservative estimate, its been a while since I started and those are the conversations I can distinctly remember. Its not like I was taking a poll either, I had people coming up to me seeing I'm new telling me stuff. What does that tell you? Do you actually work for Con-way? If you did it wouldn't be hard to find people saying that. And to be frank, I'm not that impressed with the workforce either top to bottom. I'm not saying don't work for Con-way, I'm just saying it seems like people accentuate the positive and not the negatives on here. And again, that really could be an industry thing because I heard some crazy stories about other LTL companies.

    No, I'm not a student at a truck driving school.

    I don't even think that's true and if it is that was an extremely poor management decision. Every employee video I see compares us to OD and you didn't see OD doing that. When all that stuff went down in late 2008, Con-way let go of everybody (a lot of people). Also, if your hauling cheap freight and it isn't profitable its not going to keep anyone working. How can you keep people working if you can't even break even from the freight you haul.
    50% from the carnage of late 2008 or 50% not including all the people who got fired this year?
     
  7. nikondvr

    nikondvr Light Load Member

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    Originally posted by Kimoyo:

    In my first three days working for Con-way, I had no less than 8 people tell me they didn't like working for the company. That's a conservative estimate, its been a while since I started and those are the conversations I can distinctly remember. Its not like I was taking a poll either, I had people coming up to me seeing I'm new telling me stuff. What does that tell you? Do you actually work for Con-way? It tells me that you have some drivers who are doing like a lot of employees everywhere and complaining. How many of those drivers have quit? Or were they just venting steam because everything wasn't "perfect"? And yes I have been with Conway for 3 1/2 years.
    If you did it wouldn't be hard to find people saying that.

    And to be frank, I'm not that impressed with the workforce either top to bottom. That line sounds like you are painting with a mighty wide brush. Careful not to splash some of that paint on yourself. I'm not saying don't work for Con-way, I'm just saying it seems like people accentuate the positive and not the negatives on here. And again, that really could be an industry thing because I heard some crazy stories about other LTL companies.

    No, I'm not a student at a truck driving school.



    I don't even think that's true and if it is that was an extremely poor management decision. Poor management decision to cut rates so you can retain freight volumes and keep your people employed versus having to lay them off and rehire/retrain later when freight picks back up??? And I didn't say that we were losing money on all of it although I know we lost on some most was just a little more than cost to retain employees. Of course I can only speak for what I have seen at my terminal and not company wide. Every employee video I see compares us to OD and you didn't see OD doing that. When all that stuff went down in late 2008, Con-way let go of everybody (a lot of people). Also, if your hauling cheap freight and it isn't profitable its not going to keep anyone working. How can you keep people working if you can't even break even from the freight you haul.

    50% from the carnage of late 2008 or 50% not including all the people who got fired this year? 50% over the numbers we had before they started the hiring binge a few months ago. One final thing, I have noticed since starting here that conditions in this company vary wildly depending on the area or even the terminal where you are working. Jakebrake says they get paid O/T on a 8/40 basis where we get O/T after 50 period. I wish I could get his deal without having to move to PA.
     
    Last edited: Sep 9, 2010
  8. jakebrake12

    jakebrake12 Road Train Member

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    Just saw on company print this morning that the remaining 2.5% from the pay cut we took a while back will be returned on January, 1.. Not thrilled that we took it, the reasons we took it, or that it took so long to return, but I'm glad we're getting it back. Since Doug S. has assumed control of Freight I've seen stupidity on the decline and I hope it continues in that direction. Dave M, the other Dave M (fat-beard), and John L are gone so lets hope Doug S can get things back on track then bring in someone who'll keep things moving in that direction..

    Doug S for those that don't know, is and has been the president of CNWY for a little while now and is a day one CCX man..
     
  9. westcoast

    westcoast Light Load Member

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    Hey Jakebrake. I am on the T.L side here. How hard it is to get into LTL side. I think I going to fade out TL side cuz my wife want me to be home more since we have second kids. I live here in C.A and prefer to stay with Con-way cuz i do like them. I have mix answer about switching from TL to LTL side. I do have 2yrs experience with no felony or accident. Althought i dont have hazmat endorsement yet but would no problem obtain it. I have look at Saia, Central, R&L, Estate. My Question here is, Is it hard to tranfer and have you heard of it and what the best way to go about it. Thk in advance.
     
  10. jakebrake12

    jakebrake12 Road Train Member

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    I'm really not sure what all the particulars are. I think your best bet would be to contact someone in HR and they should be able to give you all the answers - it is there job so they better get them for you..lol..

    All I know is that it can be done as of about 2 years ago. Other than that, I wish I could help you better but I'm really not sure..
     
  11. motomack

    motomack Light Load Member

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    Jake,
    Got a question for ya! I'm interested and live near Charlotte NC. I have a cdl but it is a class a with a 5th wheel restriction. I tested with a dump truck and trailer no 5th wheel. Can I still get in app. program? Have had cdl for many years and drive sanitation trucks daily. Yhanks for the reply!
     
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